I must admit, I work for a music magazine publisher so I got a copy of the Jazzies album right when it was being released. As a fan of okayplayer I have usually gone and bought the artists albums upon release even though I don't have too. I've read the reviews and unfortunately the album really wasn't moving me.

The album started off strong, but finished reallly slow and unisprired. I played it at get togethers, for my wife, and other people who I knew digged the neo-soul scene and the response is pretty consistent. Strong start, but very long and slow after track 4. Like DivineVersatile I caught the Okayplayer tour as well and wasn't overly impressed. I have friends who work at MCA and I'll be honest, their R&B roster is pretty weak, People were walking out of Jesse Powell's album release party when he started performing moaning all the way. Chante Moore got naked in her video and resorted to calling dudes Niggas ion her songs and didn't sell and Rahsaan Patterson is always going to have a problem getting over due to his sexuality and when I tell people to peep The Once and The Future they go the Jazzywha or Jazzywho?

Not to say that I'm not looking towards the followup album especially after knowing that the Jazzies ave been working with the Roots and the Soulaquarians, but it is going to take a lot to get people interested in their sound. Amel Larrieux had the same problem. Black music doesn't step out a lot, and with the exception of a few (Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Maxwell) most "neo-soul" alternative joints don't get a lot of airplay (Kina, Rahsaan Patterson, N'Dambi).

My general sentiment to Mercedes is this...Do your music for you and not for the loot. If you truly love music go there first and let the chips fall where they may. I truly belive your budget getting cut had to do with Chante Moore's album flopping and the fact that the Roots are on hiatus isn't helping either. If the new album is dope and the talent is there then another label will pick you up and pay the overage and this will all be distant memories.

You can't fault people for saying your stuff is whacked tho, sometimes it is what it is. The fact that you guys make excuses for your music in your journals signifies that you do not feel it is up to quality. Why should you hate on the masses for feeling the same way?

Look at the Alkaholiks. They have never sold more than 200,000 units yet they are on their 4th album. Keep your heads up!